Gender inequality
Gender inequality is a core driver of domestic and family violence.
Gender inequality is when one gender, most often men, is valued more highly than the other gender. This leads to men having more power, authority, and opportunities to flourish than women. Intersecting issues like race, religion, skin colour, education or sexual identity mean not all men will experience this privilege equally.
In societies shaped by this imbalance:
- Men may be socialised to expect control or dominance
- Women may be expected to be submissive or accommodating
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Power differences in relationships become normalised
Maintaining control of the gender hierarchies creates the conditions for domestic and family violence to exist.
Importantly, while both men and women can experience DFV, the most severe and ongoing abuse is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women, and this pattern is strongly linked to gender inequality.
In Australia, gender inequality exists within our social and cultural identities, within political, economic, and legal systems, and within home life.
Yet, God made men and women of equal value and worth.
As Christians we are to pursue gender equality so that all people, regardless of their gender, are not only treated with respect and dignity, but have the same opportunities to flourish.
Rigid gender stereotypes
Another key driver of domestic and family violence is rigid gender stereotypes. These are narrow and often hierarchical expectations about how women and men should think, behave, and relate in order to be accepted in society.
When people step outside of these constructed norms, they can face punishment through harassment, bullying, or discrimination.
In many contexts, dominant ideas of masculinity position men as strong, aggressive, dominant, and in control. In contrast, femininity is often defined as soft, submissive, nurturing, and self-sacrificing.
These norms are not neutral. They shape expectations within relationships and communities in ways that can be harmful to both women and men.
Rigid gender stereotypes:
- Reinforce unequal power dynamics
- Limit how people can safely express themselves
- Pressure individuals to conform, even when it is harmful
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Normalise control, dominance, and entitlement in relationships
Over time, these patterns can contribute to environments where violence is more likely to occur and more likely to be excused.
Dominant models of masculinity
Mainstream constructions of masculinity often promote a narrow and harmful set of expectations about what it means to “be a man.” These norms shape identity, relationships, and behaviour in ways that can contribute to domestic and family violence.
Within this model, masculinity is often defined by beliefs such as:
- Self-worth is tied to achievement, competence, and success
- Seeking help is a sign of weakness or failure
- Expressing vulnerability or “soft” emotions is unmanly
- Emotional connection, empathy, and non-sexual affection should be avoided
- Men are naturally superior to women
- Men should be dominant, competitive, and in control
- Women are suited to caregiving, while men are suited to leadership and decision-making
- Sexuality is performance-based and goal-oriented
- The use of power, control, or even violence is acceptable to maintain authority
- “Real men” are strong, tireless, and unaffected by pain or limitation
Research by The Jesuit Social Services ‘Man Box’ indicates that agreeing with and subscribing to these rigid rules for masculinity is linked to an increase in risk taking and violent behaviours, increase in substance abuse and gambling, increased risk of using violence in intimate relationships, and an increase in risk of self-harm for these men. Therefore, rigid forms of masculinity are harmful to both men and women.
The link between violence and masculinity
While not all men commit violence, perpetrators of the most serious violent crimes and abuses are men.
While the data on who commits violence is limited, we know that the perpetrators of most violence, against men and women, are men. Most violence against women is at the hands of men they know.
This points to the systemic and cultural nature of male-perpetrated violence, shaped by dominant norms of masculinity.
A different vision of masculinity is needed—one that replaces dominance and control with respect, empathy, accountability, and care.
Challenging the drives of domestic violence
In your church community, SAFER encourages you to do the following:
- Individually or in groups encourage and support self-reflection to consider personal male privilege and power, and to critically explore assumptions about gender roles and stereotypes
- Explore how rigid views of masculinity impact women in your context. How does your church community promote the voices, stories, and experiences of women, and support their leadership?
- Teach on different models of gender and humanity – models that value peaceful coexistence, mutual tolerance, caretaking of each other and of the planet
- Use non-violent role models and engage men as positive role models for boys, in particular, men who display peacemaking, non-violence, empathy and compassion
- Avoid over-emphasising men’s leadership at the expense of acknowledging work by women, or no allow men to dominate discussion in mixed settings at the expense of women’s voices
- Encourage men to call out sexism
- Hold abusers accountable for violence when led by the victim to do so.
